Kids and Video Games

Kids are going back to school and schedules are changing. It is critically important to keep them active while paying attention to how much "screen time" they get.

TOTAL "Screen Time": ( TV, PS-3, DS, computer, cell phone, video, other )
is limited to 90 min a day... That's only 90 minutes! Morning cartoons, after school TV special, Facebook communication and games, cell phone apps, evening DVD / TV movies, Xbox. 
I encourage an parental experiment particularly for those parents who are NOT "gamers." Sit with your child and play their favorite shoot-em-up game for 10 minutes. Notice your sweaty hands, pounding heart, and general sense of fatigue.  

Research by psychologists at Iowa state show violent video games and television (by interpolation, violent movies as well), contribute to attention problems in children and young adults. The research indicates that screen time in general contributes to attention problems in both children and college age students, and that children who engage in more than two hours of screen time per day (the American Academy of Pediatrics - AAP - recommends no more than two hours of screen time daily for children), were 50 to 100 percent more likely to be above average in attention problems. 

Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Roger Sperry identified the spine as the motor that drives the brain. He found "90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine." That means get the kids moving at every opportunity!

Questions / Comments: Dr. Crokin (503) 431.2388

All 'bout YOU

In my office, your healthcare is about YOU. You get to choose without a bunch of hassle. Initially, my job is to evaluate the condition, determine if I can even help, then lay out recommendations. YOU get to accept, modify or deny care. Here's something for you to consider...

How long would it take to correct these teeth? A couple of visits to the dentist? Maybe a few pills? Or are years of braces a more realistic option?



It's the same with YOUR spine! The farther to the right one goes on the scale below......

...the longer YOUR recovery will take! 

Questions? Call me directly: 503.431.2388

Chiropractor-PortlandOR.com

Chiropractic Treatment Plan

Every Chiropractor should outline an exact "plan of attack" for the condition being addressed. Things that must be considered are:

 

1) How severe is it

2) How long has this been going on

3) What are the underlying circumstances; x-ray findings / age / other health issues such as diabetes, MS, developmental concerns, joint instability to name a few.

4) Patient wishes / desires / personal Chiropractic goals.

Severity:

Face it. The worse a condition is and the greater it's impact on daily activities typically indicates a more aggressive approach. Daily care for a week followed by 12 visits over 30 days is not an unreasonable way to start. Again... That's to START. Less severe conditions with little affect on daily activities suggests a more modest approach. 

Timing:

An injury that has plagued someone for years will simply take more time. It's not difficult to understand. There is no magic pill or silver bullet that will make a chronic condition disappear overnight. Acute injuries often generally respond more quickly.

Underlying issues:

Having bone spurs, flattened discs and unstable ligaments is unfortunate and will necessarily require a more lengthy approach.  Similarly diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and most other chronic health conditions simply lower a body's ability to recover. If the system is busy handling one thing, dealing with another is just that more difficult.

Patient goals:

This is a big one. Chiropractors are driven by a simple philosophy; Remove nerve interference and let the body heal. Chiropractors are often so set in this philosophy they neglect to hear what the patient wants. As Chiropractors, we want the very best for our patients and sometimes push for a full course of corrective care. Sometimes, patients just want to get back to work or reduce their pain to a point they can tolerate.  

At Fox Chiropractic, I will always listen to YOUR goals. Ideally, it is our hope patients will see the benefit of corrective care. The patient wins, the office wins and Chiropractic wins. However, if you have another idea after we have everything explained, an abbreviated care plan is available. Just know the problem is expected to come back. Patients who make this choice generally do not look as good on their return as they did on their exit.

If it works... Keep it up!

Fox Chiropractic Clinic

Richard H. Crokin, DC

503.431.2388

Why Chiropractic

The shear simplicity of the basic concepts of Chiropractic seem to get over complicated. This seems to make people say things like "Well... I never needed a Chiropractor" and "I feel fine. Why would I go?" 

That  thing resting on your shoulders is home to an amazing machine... your brain. It is doing everything it can to send and receive messages to and from your body every second of the day. It is what controls your heart, blood pressure, immune system, erectile function, menstrual cycle, digestion, ability to breathe... Everything!

Q: "I never needed a Chiropractor" -

 Is similar to saying "I never needed to update my internet security" or "My car works fine with the 'check engine' light on."

Does the sedentary desk jockey feel pain related to blood pressure? Why is my child always sick? How many pills do we need for erectile dysfunction before we understand lack of function is not the result of low Viagra? Could gut problems improve if better fuel was put into it? And then there's asthma. Look, breathing is controlled neurologically in large part by the brain stem and mechanically dependent on thoracic spine, muscles, ribs and diaphragm. That's Chiropractic! 

A: Of course you need a Chiropractor

Seeing a Chiropractor once a month keeps your system running smoothly by maintaining nerve function.  Symptoms of gut problems, poor immune, sexual dysfunction and asthma ARE Chiropractic concerns. 

Q: Why would I go? I feel fine." 

People take vitamins when they feel OK to stay well. You probably brush your teeth even though 

there are no cavities. People change the oil in their car without blue smoke pouring out of the exhaust. This is not rocket science here. Having a professional monitor and direct small changes can save your life. Isn't that worth $60 a month?

I have to understand not everyone will accept this truth. I hope you do!

Richard H. Crokin, DC

Fox Chiropractic Clinic

503.431.2388

Premitive Reflexes and Chiropractic

A 14 yo girl presented for treatment of LONG standing back pain. She had dealt with the condition for as long as she and her mother could remember. This active, smart and otherwise healthy young person was desperate for change. She had been evaluated by various specialists, had been to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and had even had multiple spinal injections! Nothing seemed to help. 

I knew I had to go down an entirely different road. I began asking about her childhood development. Right away, Mom starts in reporting the delayed developmental milestones; Slow to crawl, delayed walking and difficulty reading. I asked about the girl's eating  habits. Mom knew I was onto something because her eyes popped and her jaw dropped. Mom began telling me the daughter was an extremely picky eater.

These are all indications of "hemispheric brain changes" or what is being called a "functional disconnect" in the nervous system. With this understanding, I began searching for persistent primitive reflexes.  I found them!

At the time of this report, her care progressing.  She is performing very specific neurologic exercises that simulate movement patterns that inhibit the primitive reflexes. The result? She is noticing improvements for the first time IN HER LIFE!

What once was considered miraculous is now expected. 

Dr. Richard H. Crokin

Fox Chiropractic

(503) 431-2388